SYNOPSIS
BARBA is a full-length musical celebrating the life of Brazilian-born Fernando Barbosa “Barba” Ferraz, the creator of the world-renowned body percussion ensemble Barbatuques, who discovers he has an extraordinary gift for creating music using his own body as an instrument. During his mission to share this accessible form of music, and teach others to tap into their own musical creativity, Barba is diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. Following surgery, this virtuosic musician dedicated to rhythm is rendered profoundly disabled, now finding himself dysrhythmic, and out of sync.
BARBA is a full-length musical celebrating the life of Brazilian-born Fernando Barbosa “Barba” Ferraz, the creator of the world-renowned body percussion ensemble Barbatuques, who discovers he has an extraordinary gift for creating music using his own body as an instrument. During his mission to share this accessible form of music, and teach others to tap into their own musical creativity, Barba is diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. Following surgery, this virtuosic musician dedicated to rhythm is rendered profoundly disabled, now finding himself dysrhythmic, and out of sync.
Cast & Characters
The entire cast is our orchestra. They are going to make all the music (and sound effects) through body percussion and a cappella music; some will also play portable instruments: Brazilian pife (a transverse bamboo flute), the Berimbau (jaw harp) and guitar.
The entire cast is our orchestra. They are going to make all the music (and sound effects) through body percussion and a cappella music; some will also play portable instruments: Brazilian pife (a transverse bamboo flute), the Berimbau (jaw harp) and guitar.
The entire cast is our orchestra. They are going to make all the music (and sound effects) through body percussion and a cappella music; some will also play portable instruments: Brazilian pife (a transverse bamboo flute), the Berimbau (jaw harp) and guitar.
Six principal characters (three women, three men), plus ensemble between six to fourteen). The larger the ensemble, the richer the soundscape.
Six principal characters (three women, three men), plus ensemble between six to fourteen). The larger the ensemble, the richer the soundscape.
Six principal characters (three women, three men), plus ensemble between six to fourteen). The larger the ensemble, the richer the soundscape.
The cast should reflect the diverse composition of Brazil–a mix of Latin, African, Indigenous, European and Asian individuals.
One of the lead characters is physically handicapped–confined to a wheelchair [as she is in real life]–and she demonstrates remarkable resilience and perseverance in the face of her limitations.
The cast should reflect the diverse composition of Brazil–a mix of Latin, African, Indigenous, European and Asian individuals.
One of the lead characters is physically handicapped–confined to a wheelchair [as she is in real life]–and she demonstrates remarkable resilience and perseverance in the face of her limitations.
The cast should reflect the diverse composition of Brazil–a mix of Latin, African, Indigenous, European and Asian individuals.
One of the lead characters is physically handicapped–confined to a wheelchair [as she is in real life]–and she demonstrates remarkable resilience and perseverance in the face of her limitations.
Creative Team
Carlos Bauzys of São Paulo, Brazil and Los Angeles-based Kim Bixler met when they were paired together while auditioning for NYU Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (GMTWP). They collaborated on numerous pieces during the two year program, culminating in their master thesis project BARBA. Their final year in the program (2023) was dedicated to completing a full-length musical with the support of the faculty, staff and their fellow students.
Carlos Bauzys of São Paulo, Brazil and Los Angeles-based Kim Bixler met when they were paired together while auditioning for NYU Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (GMTWP). They collaborated on numerous pieces during the two year program, culminating in their master thesis project BARBA. Their final year in the program (2023) was dedicated to completing a full-length musical with the support of the faculty, staff and their fellow students.
Carlos Bauzys of São Paulo, Brazil and Los Angeles-based Kim Bixler met when they were paired together while auditioning for NYU Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (GMTWP). They collaborated on numerous pieces during the two year program, culminating in their master thesis project BARBA. Their final year in the program (2023) was dedicated to completing a full-length musical with the support of the faculty, staff and their fellow students.
Carlos Bauzys
Carlos Bauzys is a composer, orchestrator and musical director from São Paulo, Brazil—highlights include: Aparecida – Um Musical, Isaura, O Pífaro, Silêncio em Apuros, Bichos do Mundo and Kin Con Krof.
Musical director and conductor of several first-class musical theater shows in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), highlighting: Summer - The Donna Summer Musical, Zorro, Sunset Boulevard, Peter Pan, The Producers, Singin’In The Rain, Man Of La Mancha, R&H Cinderella, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hello Dolly, Grey Gardens and La Cage Aux Folles.
Musical director and arranger for Disney Plus Brazil in the project Uma Garota Comum (2023). Co-Musical Director of Barbatuques (world-famous Brazilian body percussion group).
First Brazilian to be awarded a Full Tuition Scholarship in the Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at NYU (MFA ‘23, Cycle 32). Bachelor in Composition and Conducting at the Institute of Arts UNESP.
Carlos Bauzys is a composer, orchestrator and musical director from São Paulo, Brazil—highlights include: Aparecida – Um Musical, Isaura, O Pífaro, Silêncio em Apuros, Bichos do Mundo and Kin Con Krof.
Musical director and conductor of several first-class musical theater shows in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), highlighting: Summer - The Donna Summer Musical, Zorro, Sunset Boulevard, Peter Pan, The Producers, Singin’In The Rain, Man Of La Mancha, R&H Cinderella, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hello Dolly, Grey Gardens and La Cage Aux Folles.
Musical director and arranger for Disney Plus Brazil in the project Uma Garota Comum (2023). Co-Musical Director of Barbatuques (world-famous Brazilian body percussion group).
First Brazilian to be awarded a Full Tuition Scholarship in the Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at NYU (MFA ‘23, Cycle 32). Bachelor in Composition and Conducting at the Institute of Arts UNESP.
Carlos Bauzys is a composer, orchestrator and musical director from São Paulo, Brazil—highlights include: Aparecida – Um Musical, Isaura, O Pífaro, Silêncio em Apuros, Bichos do Mundo and Kin Con Krof.
Musical director and conductor of several first-class musical theater shows in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), highlighting: Summer - The Donna Summer Musical, Zorro, Sunset Boulevard, Peter Pan, The Producers, Singin’In The Rain, Man Of La Mancha, R&H Cinderella, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hello Dolly, Grey Gardens and La Cage Aux Folles.
Musical director and arranger for Disney Plus Brazil in the project Uma Garota Comum (2023). Co-Musical Director of Barbatuques (world-famous Brazilian body percussion group).
First Brazilian to be awarded a Full Tuition Scholarship in the Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at NYU (MFA ‘23, Cycle 32). Bachelor in Composition and Conducting at the Institute of Arts UNESP.
Message from Carlos:
“As the former co-music director of the Barbatuques, and close friends with Barba, I’m excited to have the opportunity to tell Barba’s history in a musical, because it is also my history. Today, Barbatuques is a very well-known group in the world with reference to body percussion, but Barba’s influences are also in musical education across the country. The way he could create music from nothing, using just the body and the creativity coming from all people around him was so special, evolving and inclusive.”
“As the former co-music director of the Barbatuques, and close friends with Barba, I’m excited to have the opportunity to tell Barba’s history in a musical, because it is also my history. Today, Barbatuques is a very well-known group in the world with reference to body percussion, but Barba’s influences are also in musical education across the country. The way he could create music from nothing, using just the body and the creativity coming from all people around him was so special, evolving and inclusive.”
“As the former co-music director of the Barbatuques, and close friends with Barba, I’m excited to have the opportunity to tell Barba’s history in a musical, because it is also my history. Today, Barbatuques is a very well-known group in the world with reference to body percussion, but Barba’s influences are also in musical education across the country. The way he could create music from nothing, using just the body and the creativity coming from all people around him was so special, evolving and inclusive.”
Kim Bixler
Kim Bixler is a songwriter, author, playwright and public speaker from Southern California. Prior to attending graduate school at NYU Tisch’s Musical Theater Graduate Writing Program, Kim published her latest book Growing Up in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and was featured in the PBS documentary Frank Lloyd Wright’s Boynton House: The Next Hundred Years. In addition to her plays and musicals based on the life of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Kim has written two other books, several short plays, a few mini musicals and monologues that are not about the architect. Kim graduated from Cornell University, and attended Harvard University as a college scholar studying political science and history, prior to getting her MFA in musical theater writing.
Kim Bixler is a songwriter, author, playwright and public speaker from Southern California. Prior to attending graduate school at NYU Tisch’s Musical Theater Graduate Writing Program, Kim published her latest book Growing Up in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and was featured in the PBS documentary Frank Lloyd Wright’s Boynton House: The Next Hundred Years. In addition to her plays and musicals based on the life of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Kim has written two other books, several short plays, a few mini musicals and monologues that are not about the architect. Kim graduated from Cornell University, and attended Harvard University as a college scholar studying political science and history, prior to getting her MFA in musical theater writing.
Kim Bixler is a songwriter, author, playwright and public speaker from Southern California. Prior to attending graduate school at NYU Tisch’s Musical Theater Graduate Writing Program, Kim published her latest book Growing Up in a Frank Lloyd Wright House and was featured in the PBS documentary Frank Lloyd Wright’s Boynton House: The Next Hundred Years. In addition to her plays and musicals based on the life of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Kim has written two other books, several short plays, a few mini musicals and monologues that are not about the architect. Kim graduated from Cornell University, and attended Harvard University as a college scholar studying political science and history, prior to getting her MFA in musical theater writing.
Performed by: Chelsea Zeno, Cesar Carreno & Carlos Bauzys
Barba takes his girlfriend Dani to the waterfall to share some news. Dani thinks she is about to get a marriage proposal.
